Clasp.



PATENTED JUNE 6, 1905.

' G. A.. WALTER.,

CLASP.

l APPLIGATION :FILED s211129, 1904.

UNITED STATES Patented June 6, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 791,737, dated June 6, 1-905.

Application led September 29, 1904. Serial No. 226,534.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. WALTER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the boroughof Brooklyn, in the city and State of New York, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Clasps, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a clasp especially adapted for use in securinga Shoestring after it has been tied, so as to prevent it from becoming loosened or untied, the clasp engaging the string upon opposite sides of the knot. Afurther object is to provide a device which will be very simple in operation, neat and attractive, and which cannot become unintentionally released.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a front view of the clasp closed as in use, the knot of a Shoestring being shown secured thereby. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section through the same. Fig. 3 is a back view. Fig. 4 is a front View of the clasp when open, and Fig. 5 is a sidel` view of the same.

The base-plate of the clasp is denoted by l and is preferably made of sheet metal. This base-plate is provided at its upper edge with a hook 2, formed by bending over the metal of the base-plate, which hook is used for attaching the clasp to the article in connection with which the lace is being used.

A loop 3 is hinged to the upper end of the base-plate l, which loop in the present instance is represented as of wire bent to form a straight outer cross-bar, substantially parallel longitudinal sides, and laterally-turned ends. These ends are inserted into eyes 4c, formed by bending the metal of the base-plate to the front upon opposite sides of the hook 2. A tongue 5,' preferably of sheet metal, has a swinging and longitudinal sliding engagement with the loop 3. The outer cross-bar of the loop is shown herein as passing through alongitudinal elongated slot 6, formed in the tongue 5 by slitting the same a shortdistance to form three longitudinal strips, two of which strips are bowed outwardly and -the other of said strips bowed inwardly. One end of the tongue 5 is provided' with a hook 7, arranged to lap under the lower edge of the base-plate 1 when the clasp is closed to hold the tongue in position.

The operation of the clasp when used in connection with a Shoestring is' as follows: After the string has been tied into a bow or other knot the base-plate is inserted between the knot and shoe. The loop,` with its tongue, is then swungover the front of the knot with the sides ofv the loop at both sides of the knot. The tongue is then inserted between the knot and the base-plate and moved up until its hook 7 laps under the lower edge of the base-plate. The string will thus be secu rely clamped upon both sides of the knot between the sides of the loop and the tongue.

What I claim is- 1. A tie-clasp comprising a base-plate, a loop hinged thereto, a tongue having a swinging and longitudinal sliding engagement with the free end of the loop` for clamping the tie between-it and the sides of the loop and a hook on the tongue arranged to lap under the lower edge of the base-plate.

2. A tie-clasp comprising a base-plate, va hook at one end of the base-plate for attaching it to the larticle in connection with which` the clasp is used, a loop hinged to the plate, a

tongue having a swinging and longitudinal ence of two witnesses, this 26th dayof Sep- Witnesses:

FREDK. HAYNES, C. S. SUNDGREN. 

